Photo from the Silang Municipal Police Station
MANILA -- Three Chinese nationals and one Malaysian were arrested in separate hotel operations in Pasay City for their alleged involvement in the killing of a Chinese national in Silang, Cavite.
According to a report from the Silang Municipal Police Station, barangay officials responded at around 11:40 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, after a bloodied man was found lying beside a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) in Purok 7, Ilayang Pulo, Barangay Iba, Silang, Cavite.
One of the SUV’s front wheels had partially slipped into a roadside canal. Barangay responders rushed the victim to Silang Specialist Medical Center, where he was declared dead on arrival after sustaining 18 stab wounds on different parts of his body.
Police identified the victim only by the alias “Boss.”
Silang Police Chief PLt. Col. Joseph Macatangay said CCTV footage recovered near the crime scene showed several men believed to be foreigners walking away before boarding a tricycle. Another CCTV camera later captured the group transferring to another vehicle.
Investigators later discovered that the SUV found beside the victim had been reported missing days earlier after it was rented in Manila by a Malaysian national. Using the vehicle’s GPS tracker, the owner was able to locate the SUV in Silang, Cavite.
Authorities confirmed it was the same vehicle found beside the victim.
The investigation also revealed that the Malaysian allegedly used a fake driver’s license to rent the SUV despite not knowing how to drive.
Police further learned that a day before the killing, the Malaysian had already been arrested by the Bureau of Immigration for lacking legal documents to remain in the Philippines.
“Yan ay nahuli na ng taga-immigration a day before the crime was happened. So nangyari nun, inutusan lang siya talaga na ayun lang papel niya mag-renta. Inutusan siya, binigyan siya ng pera tapos pagka-renta kinuha na sa kanya yung sasakyan,” Macatangay said.
Investigators found that after the vehicle was rented, it was taken by the Malaysian’s associates.
Authorities believe the SUV was later used by five Chinese nationals and one Malaysian, who traveled from Pasay to Tagaytay to sell the vehicle to one of the victim’s contacts.
The transaction, however, reportedly did not push through, triggering an argument during the group’s return to Metro Manila that eventually led to the crime.
Macatangay said investigators believe the victim allegedly fired a gun first—a claim supported by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), who recovered a spent bullet slug and a shell casing from the crime scene.
“Tapos doon pinagtulung-tulungan na siya, pinagsasaksak siya ng mga kasama niya,” he added.
With the help of the Malaysian live-in partner, who rented the SUV, police tracked down the suspects to two separate hotels in Pasay City, where three Chinese nationals and and one Malaysian were arrested.
The suspects were positively identified by the tricycle driver who transported them on the night of the killing. Authorities also recovered a bladed weapon from the suspects.
Police are continuing the manhunt for another Chinese national believed to be the group’s leader.
Authorities believe the suspects are also involved in other criminal activities.
“Base sa mga nakita namin sa cellphone nila, yung at large na suspect ay gun-running ang lakad while yung isa naman, si Big Guy, yung pinangangangalan doon, is drugs ang lakad niya,” Macatangay said.
The four arrested suspects have been charged with homicide and are now detained at the custodial facility of the Silang Municipal Police Station.